No. 1 UConn routs Rutgers on Senior Day

UConn senior Bria Hartley, third from left, stands with her parents, Simone and Dennis Hartley, and senior Stefanie Dolson, second from right, stands with her parents, Krystal and Steve. The two were inducted into the Huskies of Honor on Senior Day at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs before Saturday’s 72-35 win over Rutgers.
Jessica Hill — The Associated Press

STORRS >> With the crowd roaring with every step, Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley entered the court at Gampel Pavilion as individual stars reveling in the magnitude of it all. Fittingly enough, the teammates were able to leave the court together after yet another convincing win by the top-ranked UConn women’s basketball team.

While there were so many sidebars taking place inside the Hub of Huskymania, Saturday afternoon was all about the two senior stars leaving as winners in their final regular-season home game.

Hartley had 20 points, the first time she’s done so in four straight games with the Huskies, and Dolson pulled down her 1,000th career rebound as top-ranked UConn defeated Rutgers 72-35 before a sellout crowd of 10,167. UConn extended its winning streak to 36 games and posted the program’s ninth straight 30-win season.

“It is once in a lifetime (moment), it is that moment when the spotlight is on you,” Hartley said. “You just want to shine in that moment, so it was really exciting.”

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The players entered the court pretty much the way one would expect. While Hartley had a business-like approach, Dolson was high stepping and turning something as basic as a 10-step walk to greet UConn coach Geno Auriemma into an event to remember.

“I had a great day and it was a lot of fun,” Dolson said. “I told you I had something planned. I had no idea what I was going to do. I figured what better way to go out than the way I came in, dancing.

“It was so special. The environment was just amazing. To have all the fans come out for the two of us and be able to share it with Bria. The fact that we came in together and we had such similar journeys throughout our careers, and to end it together is just a moment that we will never forget.”

Dolson and Hartley have been starting since arriving at UConn. They came in at a time when the Huskies were in the midst of a NCAA Division I women’s basketball record 78-game winning streak and playing alongside the legendary Maya Moore.

Their freshman and sophomore seasons ended with disappointing losses to Notre Dame in the national semifinals, but now they have a chance to leave as key members of back-to-back national championship teams.

“Those two guys have been under the gun in every minute of every day that they have been here, and I don’t think anybody has handled it better than they have for four years,” Auriemma said.

Lost in Dolson and Hartley being recognized on Senior Day and being inducted into the Huskies of Honor was that UConn clinched a share of the American Athletic Conference regular-season title.

UConn heads to Louisville on Monday with a chance to secure the outright title, but if the Huskies lose, a coin flip would be needed to determine the top seed in the upcoming AAC tournament.

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis returned to the starting lineup after missing the last four games due to mononucleosis, and after missing her first three shots, did make a pair of field goals late in the first half. She finished with seven points, three rebounds and three assists.

With 3:01 left in the first half Dolson hauled in her 1,000th career rebound, joining Tina Charles, Maya Moore, Rebecca Lobo and Jamelle Elliott as the only Huskies to reach that plateau. She also started her 142nd career game tying her with Ann Strother for fourth place on UConn’s career list. She also tied Shea Ralph for 13th on UConn’s career scoring list.

Hartley and Breanna Stewart led UConn (30-0, 17-0 in the American Athletic Conference) with 20 points each, while Stewart added 10 rebounds. Dolson had six points and 10 rebounds, Moriah Jefferson nine points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals and Kiah Stokes had 11 rebounds and all three of the Huskies’ blocked shots. UConn has set a program single-season record with 253 blocked shots.

Rutgers was without its leading scorer Kahleah Copper, who is dealing with a case of turf toe. Betnijah Laney led the Scarlet Knights (20-7, 11-5) with 14 points.